Changing capacity electric generator

ABSTRACT

In the changing capacity electric generator, the electrostatic capacitance existing between oppositely charged condenser elements in a ceramic resonant combustion chamber is periodically increased when combustion takes place producing ionized gases and periodically decreased when evacuating gas currents remove the ionized gases. The changing capacitance so produced causes a current flow when this changing capacitance is placed in series electric circuitry with a high voltage transformer and a charged fixed condenser enabling electric work to be done from the secondary of the transformer.

,Fune 5, 1973 3,582,693 6/1971 OHare...,..........

[54] CHANGING CAPACITY ELECTRIC GENERATOR [76] Inventor: Louis RichardOHare, 2700 Indi- Dugga" ana, N.E., Albuquerque, N. Mex.

ppositely [57] ABSTRACT In the changing capacity electric generator, theelectrostatic capacitance existing between 0 l 7 9 1 5 M6 n3 n5 J1 0 N.mL P MD. FA 1] 21 22 [l charged condenser elements in a ceramicresonant [52] U.S. 310/10 c m u ion chamber is periodically increasedwhen [51] Int. combustion takes place producing ionized gases andperiodically decreased when evacuating gas currents he ionized gases.The changing capacitance ced causes a current flow when this chancapacitance is pl t e v 0 m m 6 2 ,7 O1 3 WA 32 2 3 .P. l 0 l 3 h. c r.a e S t 0 M e .1 F .l. 8 5 rt so produ ging aced in series electriccircuitry with a ansformer and a charged fixed cong electric work to bedone from the [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS high voltagetr denser enablin secondary of the transformer.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures R 600 467 999 111 Ill 2 0 111 PATENTEB JJH5191s SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR,

BY P, (9%

CHANGING CAPACITY ELECTRIC GENERATOR This invention relates toelectrohydrodynamic devices which use fluids and electrostatic fields togenerate electricity. The object is to generate electricity efficientlywith a minimum of moving parts and in a relatively simple manner. Thespecification follows. My invention uses ionization energy derived fromeither fuel combustion or gases laden with radioactive particles orlight energy as ultra violet, visible or infra red when such energy isemployed to ionize a volume of gas in a cavity when this volume of gasis used for its electrical conductive properties specifically when thiselectrical conducitvity is employed as a means of increasing electricalcapacitance between capacitor elements. Means are applied to use theenergy in surges or pulses in order that alternate periods of ionizationand deionization result. During that period in which the gases areionized and become an electrically conductive medium the electriccapacitance between two sets of electric capacitor elements is increasedand alternately during a subsequent period of deionization there is aremoval of conductivity and a lowering of capacitance. The reason forthis later part of the cycle is that without the conducting ionizedgases between the condenser elements 'the physical separation of theelements precludes much electrostatic v inductive interaction whereaswith ionization and consequent conductivity present the physicaldistance of separation is abridged by an electricaly conductive medium.The net effect then of the ionizing and deionizing action is to producea condenser of constantly changing capacity and when such a condenserwith at least one heavily insulated element is placed in a serieselectric circuit with a fixed type of capacitor and an electric loadthere results a pumping action as the current is made to flow throughthe load from the charged fixed condenser to the variable capacitycondenser as ionization and conductivity increase the capacitance of thevariable capacitor. If the capacitance of the variable capacitorincreases to the same value as the fixed capacitor current will flowuntil the total charge originally on the fixed capacitor is now equallydistributed on the two equally valued condensers. Subsequently duringdeionization as conductivity decreases and capacitance drops on thevariable capacitor then that part of the variable capacitors chargewhich was its share now is being held by that variable capacitor withless capacitance and since the capacitance is less and the charge is thesame the voltage on this condenser increases moving the charge to thefixed condenser where the voltage is what it was. In doing this thecharge is compelled to move through the load where it can produceelectrical work.

In a former patent by this inventor, U.S. Pat. No. 3,582,693 in whichthe same principles apply there was a less effective use of insulatingmaterials and much less variation in capacity was available from thevariable capacitor. With the use of capacitor oils with their very highbreakdown voltage both to insulate the variable capacitor elements aswell as to cool them in a circuit in which these oils circulate in acooling cycle a much higher electric capacitance is possible during theionization period as the elements of the capacitor may be inserteddirectly into the volume of hot ionized gases. Because of the insulatingquality of oils higher voltages may be applied in a smaller volume andfinally, becuase of the formula, charge equals voltage multiplied bycapacit ance, since the voltage is higher the charge is higher and thepower which is a result of the product of the two is that much larger.As a result the use of fuel and space is more efficient with this newmethod. The accumulated charge which was in the former concept held onspheres which consumed much space per quantity of charge is now held ina fixed capacitor of the plate type using high vacuum techniques orlarger quantities of insulating fluid and thereby conserving space.

In the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates the ionization and reaction chamber in which anenergy source such as combustion of fuel reacts to produce pulses ofheat and periods of ionization wherein electrically conducting ionsreact with the fields of electrostatic condenser elements as anyconducting medium would react between opposite insulated plates of acondenser namely to periodically increase the capacitance of thecondenser. Of this FIG. 1 is a ceramic type strongly insulating wall.The cavity in which the gases are ionized is shown by 2. The inletopening tube into which air or other appropriate gas is admitted forpassage into the reaction chamber is shown by 3 and the size of thistube is in a certain proportion to the size of the reaction orcombustion chamber to permit pulsating combustion when used inconjunction with exit tube 4 of proportionate dimensions. Fuel andseeding material may be admitted through a metemg fuel line 5 with itssupply tank 6. High voltage cables 7 carry extremely high voltage tocondenser elements 8. The high voltage solid insulation 9 protects thecables. Whereas ceramic tubes 10 conduct insulating fluid admitted atinlets 11. This insulating fluid 12 is circulated across oppositecondenser elements and through a cooling radiator to serve the purposeof cooling the electrodes as well as of thermally protecting them fromdeterioration. Coolant-insulator exists through outlets 13. There is aseparate designation 14 for the condenser elements which are oppositeelements 8 and which capacitively react with the ionized gas in thechamber by electrostatic induction through dielectric fluid and throughthe conducting ions and by means of them react as a condenser withinsulated condenser elements 8. Cables 15 bring opposite polarityvoltage to elements 14 through electric connectors 16.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram indicating the electric circuitry and anexciter power supply used to periodically restore the fixed capacitor tomaximum voltage. The

changing capacity reaction chamber is indicated by 1.

The fixed capacitor capable of 300,000 volts is indicated by 2. Theelectric load is depicted by 3 and the exciter power supply is 4.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram. The symbol for the reactor is bestillustrated by the symbol of a variable capacitor with two fixed platesor elements and a conductive moving rotor which represents the action ofthe ions in creating the capacitance between the fixed elements as wellas of removing the capacitance between the plates as when the ionizationceases between pulses of energy. This symbol is l. The symbol for thefixed capacitor is 2. A transformer 3 is a symbol of a type of electricload which could be used. A rectifier 4 in series with a 500,000 volttransformer 5 is a type of power supply which might be used for theinitial charge on the fixed capacitor and raise voltage when necessary.

In another embodiment of the basic inventive concept the ionization andevacuation process of FIG. 1 in which combustion produces ionization andthe pulsed furnace type of pulse jet carries away the combustionproducts and accompanying ions may be replaced by a carrier gas streamflowing through the same reaction chamber in which alternate ionizationand deionization periods are achieved by an alternate seeding andnonseeding of the gas stream with radio active particles. If the carriergas flow is kept laminar then during those periods in which the movinggas is carrying particles through the reaction chamber there will beionization and conductivity present together with its increasedcapacitance causing quality. During the periods the gas is not carryingthe particles there will be a reduction of capacitance.

In still another embodiment of the basic inventive concept radiation ofvarious types may be admitted intermittently through inlet opening 3 ofFIG. 1 to produce intermittent periods of ionization. For example ultraviolet radiation of a wavelength of 784 Angstrom units will ionizenitrogen gas and mercury vapor in the reaction chamber could be ionizedby radiation of 1,192 Angstrom units thereby producing periods ofionization conductivity and capacitance to be used as described above.Electron beams alpha, gamma or proton beams could be similarly used.

Therefore what I claim is:

l. A generator of electricity which comprises a fixed condenser of 300K.V. or more being charged to potential by a power supply of equivalentvoltage and a variable capacitor-reaction chamber connected in serieselectric circuit to said fixed capacitor and to extremely high voltagetransfromer for impedance matching to an electric load, said variablecapacitance-reaction chamber consisting of an insulated cavity in whichgases may be ionized in one instance by combustion and removed in onedirection by the action of pulsating combustion conductivity of the ionsbeing augmented by addition of alkali metal salts to fuel material thechanging capacitance of this combustion and ionization chamber beingaccomplished by multiple cylindrical condenser elements of oppositepolarities inserted in the walls of said combustion opposite each othersaid capacitor elements being inclosed in ceramic tubes between each ofwhich tube and inclosed capacitor elements circulates high voltageinsulation fluid such as high voltage transformer oil for the puspose ofcooling and thermally insulating said capacitor elements from electricarcing as well as from heat, the electric capacity between oppositelycharged elements being respectively increased and decreased bycombustion causing ionization and conductivity between the insulatedcapacitor elements on one hand and by evacuation of combustion causedions wth loss of conductivity between insulated capacitor elements onthe other hand with this said increase and decrease in capacity causinga pumping action whereby the charge residing in the fixed condenser isdistributed through the transformer to the capacitance of the reactionchamber during periods of ionization in the chamber and same charge ismoved back by increased voltage in the chamber during periods ofnonionization to the fixed condenser which movement of charge throughtransformer primary windings produces useful current in output windings.

2. A generator of electricity which comprises a fixed condenser of 300Kilovolts or more being charged to potential by a power supply ofequivalent voltage and a variable capacitor reaction chamber whichvariable capacitor reactor is connected in a series electric circuit tosaid fixed capacitor and to an extremely high voltage transformer forimpedance matching to an electric load said variable capacitancereaction chamber consisting of an insulated cavity in which gases may beionized by discreet quantities of radio active materials entrained in alaminar flow carrier gas being admitted to and discharged from thereaction chamber at certain intervals, the changing capacitance of thereaction chamber being due to the alternate presence of radioactiveparticles in the stream and non-presence of particles in the stream thechanging capacitance of this reaction chamber also being accomplished bymultiple cylindrical condenser elements of opposite polarities insertedin the walls of said chamber opposite each other said capacitor elementsbeing enclosed in ceramic tubes between each of which tubes and itsenclosed capacitor element circulates high voltage insulation fluid suchas high voltage transformer oil for the purpose of enabling electricalinsulation in such a hot environment in that the fluid is circulatedthrough a cooling means in its cycle, the electric capacity betweenoppositely charged elements being respectively increased and decreasedby ionization caused by the emission of the various products of radioactive decay of the particles suspended in the moving carrier gasfollowed by the periods of non ionization due to the absence of theradio active gas in the other parts of the stream with said increase anddecrease in capacitance causing a pumping action whereby the chargeresiding in the fixed condenser is distributed to the capacitance of thereaction chamber by moving through the transformer windings duringperiods of ionization in the chamber and this same charge issubsequently moved back to the fixed condenser by means of increasedvoltage in the chamber during the periods of non ionization since thenthat charge is being held by less capacitance in the chamber and thenecessary voltage rise forces the charge back through the transformerwindings to the fixed condenser which current flow produces usefulcurrent in the output windings.

3. A generator of electricity which comprises a fixed condenser of 300Kilovolts or more being charged to potential by a power supply ofequivalent voltage and a variable capacitor reaction chamber whichlatter is connected in a series electric circuit to said fixed capacitorand to an extremely high voltage transformer for impedance matching toan electric load said variable capacitance reaction chamber consistingof an insulated cavity provided with means to supply a flow of gas andto provide periodic ionization of the gas by intermittent admission ofradiation such as ultra violet, visible and infra red as well as byadmission of electron, proton, alpha beta and gamma radiation thechanging capacitance of the chamber being due to the alternate presenceand absence of the radiation or beam, the changing capacitance of thischamber also being accomplished by the basic elements of any capacitancewhich in this case are multiple cylindrical condenser elements ofopposite polarities insertd in the walls of said chamber opposite eachother said capacitor elements being enclosed in ceramic tubes betweeneach of which tubes and its enclosed capacitor element circulates highvoltage fluid insulation in a cooling cycle through a cooling means forthe purpose of enabling electrical high voltage insulation in such anenvironment, the electric capcity between oppositely charged moved backto the fixed condenser by means of increased voltage in the chamberduring the periods of non-ionization since then that charge is beingheld by less capacitance in the chamber and the necessary voltage risethere forces the charge back through the transformer windings to thefixed condenser which current flow produces useful current in the outputwindings.

1. A generator of electricity which comprises a fixed condenser of 300K.V. or more being charged to potential by a power supply of equivalentvoltage and a variable capacitor-reaction chamber connected in serieselectric circuit to said fixed capacitor and to extremely high voltagetransfromer for impedance matching to an electric load, said variablecapacitance-reaction chamber consisting of an insulated cavity in whichgases may be ionized in one instance by combustion and removed in onedirection by the action of pulsating combustion conductivity of the ionsbeing augmented by addition of alkali metal salts to fuel material thechanging capacitance of this combustion and ionization chamber beingaccomplished by multiple cylindrical condenser elements of oppositepolarities inserted in the walls of said combustion opposite each othersaid capacitor elements being inclosed in ceramic tubes between each ofwhich tube and inclosed capacitor elements circulates high voltageinsulation fluid such as high voltage transformer oil for the puspose ofcooling and thermally insulating said capacitor elements from electricarcing as well as from heat, the electric capacity between oppositelycharged elements being respectively increased and decreased bycombustion causing ionization and conductivity between the insulatedcapacitor elements on one hand and by evacuation of combustion causedions wth loss of conductivity between insulated capacitor elements onthe other hand with this said increase and decrease in capacity causinga pumping action whereby the charge residing in the fixed condenser isdistributed through the transformer to the capacitance of the reactionchamber during periods of ionization in the chamber and same charge ismoved back by increased voltage in the chamber during periods ofnon-ionization to the fixed condenser which movement of charge throughtransformer primary windings produces useful current in output windings.2. A generator of electricity which comprises a fixed condenser of 300Kilovolts or more being charged to potential by a power supply ofequivalent voltage and a variable capacitor reaction chamber whichvariable capacitor reactor is connected in a series electric circuit tosaid fixed capacitor and to an extremely high voltage transformer forimpedance matching to an electric load said variable capacitancereaction chamber consisting of an insulated cavity in which gases may beionized by discreet quantities of radio active materials entrained in alaminar flow carrier gas being admitted to and discharged frOm thereaction chamber at certain intervals, the changing capacitance of thereaction chamber being due to the alternate presence of radioactiveparticles in the stream and non-presence of particles in the stream thechanging capacitance of this reaction chamber also being accomplished bymultiple cylindrical condenser elements of opposite polarities insertedin the walls of said chamber opposite each other said capacitor elementsbeing enclosed in ceramic tubes between each of which tubes and itsenclosed capacitor element circulates high voltage insulation fluid suchas high voltage transformer oil for the purpose of enabling electricalinsulation in such a hot environment in that the fluid is circulatedthrough a cooling means in its cycle, the electric capacity betweenoppositely charged elements being respectively increased and decreasedby ionization caused by the emission of the various products of radioactive decay of the particles suspended in the moving carrier gasfollowed by the periods of non ionization due to the absence of theradio active gas in the other parts of the stream with said increase anddecrease in capacitance causing a pumping action whereby the chargeresiding in the fixed condenser is distributed to the capacitance of thereaction chamber by moving through the transformer windings duringperiods of ionization in the chamber and this same charge issubsequently moved back to the fixed condenser by means of increasedvoltage in the chamber during the periods of non ionization since thenthat charge is being held by less capacitance in the chamber and thenecessary voltage rise forces the charge back through the transformerwindings to the fixed condenser which current flow produces usefulcurrent in the output windings.
 3. A generator of electricity whichcomprises a fixed condenser of 300 Kilovolts or more being charged topotential by a power supply of equivalent voltage and a variablecapacitor reaction chamber which latter is connected in a serieselectric circuit to said fixed capacitor and to an extremely highvoltage transformer for impedance matching to an electric load saidvariable capacitance reaction chamber consisting of an insulated cavityprovided with means to supply a flow of gas and to provide periodicionization of the gas by intermittent admission of radiation such asultra violet, visible and infra red as well as by admission of electron,proton, alpha beta and gamma radiation the changing capacitance of thechamber being due to the alternate presence and absence of the radiationor beam, the changing capacitance of this chamber also beingaccomplished by the basic elements of any capacitance which in this caseare multiple cylindrical condenser elements of opposite polaritiesinsertd in the walls of said chamber opposite each other said capacitorelements being enclosed in ceramic tubes between each of which tubes andits enclosed capacitor element circulates high voltage fluid insulationin a cooling cycle through a cooling means for the purpose of enablingelectrical high voltage insulation in such an environment, the electriccapcity between oppositely charged elements being respectively increasedand decreased by ionization and deionization caused by respectiveapplication and absence of radiation or beams said increase and decreasein capacitance causing a pumping action whereby the charge residing inthe fixed condenser is distributed to the capacitance of the reactionchamber by moving through the transformer windings during periods ofionization in the chamber when its capacitance is high and this samecharge is subsequently moved back to the fixed condenser by means ofincreased voltage in the chamber during the periods of non-ionizationsince then that charge is being held by less capacitance in the chamberand the necessary voltage rise there forces the charge back through thetransformer windings to the fixed condenser which current flow producesuseful current in the output windings.